IIIT Hyderabad to help Telangana govt’s Blockchain Innovation Hub

International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Telangana’s Information Technology, Electronics & Communication (ITE&C) Department to assist in the upcoming Blockchain District.

The MoU was signed recently on the sidelines of International Blockchain Congress (IBC) 2018 held in the city from 3 – 4 August 2018.

Speaking on this, Telangana government’s principal secretary for ITE&C and Industries & Commerce Departments Jayesh Ranjan said, “Blockchain Technology is a very important focus area for Telangana. We are not limiting ourselves to promoting use-cases of Blockchain within the government but are planning to develop Hyderabad as a hotbed for Blockchain related development.”

“This MoU is a key step enabling such an ecosystem here and we are happy to partner with a prestigious institution like IIIT Hyderabad,” Ranjan added.

Speaking on this collaboration, IIIT-Hyderabad director Prof P J Narayanan said, “These emerging technologies are the way forward, and as a leading information technology institute we are happy to share our research and knowledge in these areas that have the potential of creating a greater impact on society.”

Under the agreement, IIIT Hyderabad will help in identifying various use cases, protocol development, incubation, acceleration and other related programs to achieve the vision of making India, and specifically Telangana, a Blockchain hub.

The institute will also explore and build PoCs using Blockchain, partner in carrying out research in Blockchain Centre of Excellence (CoE) and help focus on bringing together research institutions, private sector and startups in creating the Blockchain Innovation Hub.

The institute will also act as a knowledge partner to ITE&C Department in Blockchain related technology innovations, partner on capacity building initiative of the ITE&C Department in Blockchain related technologies and build Proof of Concept applications using Blockchain for identified areas.

IIIT-Hyderabad is also a global partner of American payment technology company Ripple for its University Blockchain Research Initiative. Ripple has partnered with 17 prestigious universities around the world to help shape the workforce of the future.

Announces Blockchain course for IT professionals

IIIT-H and skilling company TalentSprint will be offering an Advanced Certificate Programme on Blockchain Technologies and Solutions.

With a fee of around $2900 (INR 200,000), a three-month programme will enable in-depth understanding of Blockchain technologies and how to develop complex solutions for integrated financial systems, supply chain and other industry applications using Blockchain.

Professor Co-Innovation practice at the institute Ramesh Loganathan said that the first batch will start from the first week of October 2018 and any IT professionals with a minimum one year experience can apply.

Citing an industry survey, he said there was a seven-fold increase in the demand for professionals with Blockchain skills.

The institute is already offering Blockchain courses in the campus, but looking at the demand for Blockchain skills, we would like to offer a course for professionals outside the campus too, IIIT-H Director PJ Narayanan said.

Founded in 1988, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) is an autonomous research university that focuses on the core areas of Information Technology, such as Computer Science, Electronics and Communications, and their applications in other domains through inter-disciplinary research with great social impact.